Electric switch



A. DOUGLAS ELECTRIC SWITCH Sept. 13, 1932 led Aug- 1950 Patented Sept.13, 1932 UNITED; STATES HARRY A. DOUGLAS, OF BRONSON, MICHIGAN ELECTRICSWITCH Application filed August 8, 1930. Serial No. 473,800.

My invention relates to electric switches .and has for its generalobject the provision of an improved contact actuator. In accordance withthe invention this actuator is provided with a handle that includes, inits formation, a tubular portion which is reciprocable within saidsleeve and carriage the contact actuator upon one end, and a cap portionapplied to the other end of the tubular knob and also as a closure toguard against the access of foreign matterto the handle interior. Thehandle cap desirably also. serves as a stop to limit the extent to whichthe handle may be inwardly thrust. I i

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the tubularportion of the handle is re-shaped at its inner end into polygonalcontour where i't,is received within an opening of corresponding contourwhich is formed in a contact engaging element.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to theaccompanyingdrawing in which Fig. 1' is a view in elevation with parts 2shown in section; Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview showing component parts of the contact actuator in separatedrelation. The casing illustrated preferably includes a generallycylindrical wall 1 and a second wall 2 which is angularjo the first andcon-' stitutestherewith a switch receptacle ofcup formation. The wall 1is formed with prongs 3 which are passed through notches in the closurewall 4 and which are clinched into engagement with the outer fiat faceof said closure wall, whereby this wall and the cup part of the casingare held in assembly. The casing wall 4 desirably constitutes thecontact carrier of the switch structure. The circuit wires 5 and 6 areillustrated, these wires be:

ing clamped within the larger portions of the metallic sleeves 7 and 8respectively by means of binding screws 9 and 10. The reduced portionsof these sleeves pass snugly through holes that are 'formed in the wall4 and are riveted at their inner ends to form flanges 11 and 12 whichclamp said wall against the larger portionsof the sleeves. Metallic leafportion. This cap portion serves as a handle.

springs 13 and 14 are penetrated by the reduced ends of the sleeves-andare clamped against the wall 4 by the flanges 11 and 12 respectively.Said springs are formed with angular tails 15 and 16 that are receivedwithin recesses in the wall 4 to prevent these springs from being turnedupon their mountings. The unmounted ends of the springs are broughttogether to close the circuit by the means to be described, theresilience of the 0 spring 13, being sufficient to separate it from thespring 14 when the circuit closing influence is removed. The cylindricalWall of the casing cup and the bottom wall 2 of such cup constitutet'wo'angularly related branches a. of a guiding element. The shank 17 onthe handle 18 passes through an opening that is preferablv formed at thecenter of the wall 2. A guiding sleeve 19 has its inner end suitablyreceived within the central opening of the wall 2 to direct the handleinits movements. This guiding sleeve is exteriorly threaded to receiveclamping nuts 20 which may be employed to clamp the structure inassembly with the mounting 20'. The han- 7 dle carries a contactactuator 21 upon its inner end. ,As the handle is preferably'made H ofmetal and as the contact actuator de'sir-. ably has direct engagementwith the contact 13, such actuator is made of insulation, being clam edin place between the flange 22 upon the inner end of the handle and theshoulder 23on the handle. Said contact actuator has a formation which ispreferably a notch 24 in its periphery which takes part in guiding themovement of the handle and the actuator. The cylindrical wall of thecasing is formed with a rib 25 that extends inthe direction of movementof the handle and which enters the notch 24 and cooperates with thecontact actuator and the opening in the wall 2 to guide the handle andthe actuator. The unmounted end portion of the spring 13 desirablyslopes to constitute a cam formation that cooperates with the actuatorin effecting a depression of the unmounted end of this spring againstthe unmounted end of the spring 14 when the handle is moved inwardlywhereby the circuit is closed. When the hendle' is moved outwardly thespring 13, of its own resilience, will rise to become separated from itsengagement with the spring 14.

In accordance with my invention the handle portion 17 is tubular and thegripping portion 18 of the handle is formed to constitute a cap whichcloses the outer end of the portion 18 against the access of foreignmatter.

The cap and the tubular portion of the handle are desirably threaded sothat they may be screwedinto engagement. The rim of the threaded capskirt desirably serves as a stop that is engageable with some part thatis fixed with relation tothe switch casing such as the outer nut 20.

ceivable within the square opening 21' of the actuator 21. A washer 26having a square hole corresponding to the square shape of the inner endof the handle portion 17 is desirably interposed between the actuator 21and the larger part of theportion 17 to serve as a spacer.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: r 1. In a structure of theclass described, a mounting having an opening therethrough;

an exteriorly threaded sleeve passing through said opening; a clampingnut on said sleeve and clamplng the sleeve to the mounting; a

hollow shank carrying a contact actuator at one end and reciprocable insaid sleeve and the other end of the shank being threaded by adistortion of the metal of the shank; and

a hollow knob having askirt vportion provided with threads interengagingwith the threads of the shank, said skirt portion surrounding the shankand interengageable with the nut to limit the movement of the shank inthe direction of the actuator.

2. The structure of .claim 1 wherein the shank is generally tubular andhas its actuator carrying end of polygonal contour to be received into acorrespondingly shaped opening formed in the actuator.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the shank is generally tubular andhas its actuator carrying end of polygonal contour to be received into acorrespondingly shaped opening formed in the actuator, and wherein aspacing Washer is located upon the shank intermediate the actuator andthe threaded end, said washer having apolygonal opening fitting theshank.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HARRY DOUGLAS.

The inner end of the tubular portion 17 of the handle is desirablysquared to be re- I

